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.CARPET- SBWING molar-INE.

Patented. July 4, 1882E No'. 26o-,601,l

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N. PETERS. PnowALiuwgmpMr. wmngum nA i;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ONEIL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO GEO. F.

REED, OF SAME PLACE.

CARPET-SEWING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 260,601, dated July 4, 1882.

Application filed February 4, 1882. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ONEIVL, of the city and county of New York, in the State of N ewYork,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garpet-SewingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

In sewing carpets by sewing-machines in which the needle passes through both breadths of carpet at once the two breadths of carpet are placed face to face and the needle passes directl y through them at right angles to the faces. This is objectionable, because'when the carpet is turned and laid down the two edge portions beyond the seam form a ridge, which causes the carpet along the seam to wear much more rapidly, and a pile carpet thus sewed will soon have the pile worn off along each seam, while the other parts of the carpet are not worn to any considerable extent.

In sewing with my improved machine, as with other machines of the same class, the carpet or material to be sewed is secured by `clamps at each end or at points a considerable distance apart, and is then placed under tension, and in sewing the machine is fed along the seam. f

An important object of my invention is to enable carpets and other pieces of material to be sewed by stitches passing through both breadths or pieces, with the pieces to be joined ,face l l The invention consists in the combination, with a cloth plate or bed upon which the two pieces of carpet or material are supported so that they diverge downward from their edges, which are in contact on the top of the plate or bed, of a needle Working horizontally over the top or apex of the cloth plate or hed, a threadlocking device consisting of an oscillating hook or shuttle working in conjunction with the needle, and operatin g mechanism for both the needle and the hook or shuttle. The cloth bed -or plate may be adjustable upward and downward to suit different thicknesses of ma-` terial.

The invention also consists in the combination, with the above, cf a feed wheel or device above the cloth plate or bed, and in such a combination the-adjustable cloth plateor bed may be kept up to Vpress the material against the feed wheel or device by a spring, so as to readily accommodate itself to different thicknesses of carpet or material.

The invention also consists in the combination, with the above-described cloth plate or b ed and feed-wheel, of a throat-plate or needleguide adjustable up and down, and a needleholder capable of adjustment upwardv and downward upon the needle-carrier, so that the needle will pass through the material more or less above 'the top of the bed or plate, and provision is afforded for sewing, so that the thread will not be visible on the face of the material.

The invention also consists in the combination, with the above mentioned oscillating hook, of a guard projecting beyond the nose terial.

The invention also consists in the combination,'with the above-described yielding cloth plate or bed and feed-wheel, ot' a reciprocating presser and mechanism for moving it toward the cloth plate or bed when the needle enters the material and for moving it in the opposite direction when the needle leaves the material and the machine is to be fed forward.

The invention also consists'in the combination, with the machine, of a gage which is carried by and moves in front of the machine, and which keeps the edges of the material in proper relation to each other.

The invention also consists in various novel details of construction and combinations .ot'

parts, whereby the needle, the oscillatingV l* represents an end view of the frame of the.

machine alone. Fig. 2 represents a front view and partial section of a portion of the machine, the needle being shown at the end of its forward movement into the material. Fig. 3 represents a plan of the machine. Fig. etreprethereof to prevent it from catching in the ma--4 IOO sents a transverse section on the line x, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents a partly-sectional plan of the cloth-plate, hook, presser, needle-carrier, and appurtenances. Fig. 6 represents a plan ofthe gage which is carried in front of the machine. Fig. 7 represents an edge view thereof. Fig. 8 represents a side view ot' the devices employed for holding the material under tension, and of' a piece ot' material with the machine in position for work; and Fig. 9represents a section of two pieces ot' material and the clamp for holding them.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A designates the main frame of the machine which is to be as light as is consistent with the necessary strength, and A designates a handle fixed thereto and serving to steady the machine while. in use and to hold it in proper position vertically as it moves along the carpet or material.

B designates what I term a cloth plate or bed, which is titted upon an upright bar, A2, forming part ot' the frame A, so that it may be adjusted upward and downward thereon. rlhe bar Az is joined to the main frame A by a neck or portion, t, of reduced size, as shown in Figs. l* and 5, and which passes between the two breadths ot' material in front ot the needle. The bar is shown as provided with slots a, which receive pins or screws a inserted through the plate or bed, and the latter can therefore move up anddown upon said bar. When not depressed the plate or bed B is held in an elevated position by a spring, 11, acting through a lever, B', which is t'ulcrumcd to the bar A2 at b', and the end of which bears 'against theunder side of the cloth plate or bed; and itwill be seen, therefore, that the said plate or bed is capable ot' yielding to accommodate dii'erent thicknesses of material.

In adjusting the machine in position for work and in removing it from the work it is desirable to hold the cloth plate or bed down away from the work, and todo this I provide a lever, B2, pivoted at b2, and having a camhead bearingon the lever B', as shown in Fig. 4.

Above the cloth plate or bed is arotary feedwheel, C, between which and said plate or bed the material is held, and this wheel has its periphery roughened or serrated to give it a good hold upon the material. The journal c ofthe feed-wheel C is carried at one end ot' a lever or arm, C', which is fulcrumed at c' to a bracket projecting from the frame, and is securely clamped at the other end by a screw, c2, to a slotted post or arm, c3. By slackening the screw c2 the lever or arm C is free to be swung upon its fulcrum to move its feed-wheel C toward or from the cloth plate or bed, and by tightening said screw the feed-wheel may be securely held in the position to which it is adjusted.

As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the top of thc cloth plate or bed B is rounded or arched and the sides diverge downward.

The periphery of the feed-wheel C is concaved or recessed correspondingly to the curved or arched top ot' the cloth plate or bed B, and consequently the two pieces ot' material D to be sewed, when placed between the plate or bed and feed-wheel are held, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, with their edges in contact and their edge portions held tightly against the rounded or arched top ofthe cloth plate or bed B by the feed-wheel C.

Edesignates the needle carrier or slide, which is adapted to be reciprocated horizontally upon a bar, d, in theframe, and d' designates the needle block' or holder in which the needle (Z2 is rigidly Xed, and which is secured to the carrier or slide by a screw, d3, passing through a slot, d, in said block or holder. The needle d2 works horizontally over the top ofthe cloth f plate or bed B, aud by loosening the screw d3 the block or holder may be adjusted up or down, so as to cause the needle to move close to or slightly distant from the cloth plate 0r bed. The yielding of the said plate or bed increases the distance between it and the feedwheel C and adapts the machine for sewing thicker material, and as the needle d2 passes obliquely through the carpetor other material it is very desirable to have the vertical adjustment of the needle, f'or it' the needle were not capable of such adjustment the stitches would be very noticeable on the face of thin carpet or material, while they would not be visible at all on a very thick carpetor material. When the needle-block is capable of such adjustment the needle can be made to carry the thread just as near the face of the material as it is desired,whether it be thin or thick, and without having the stitches show on the face of the material.

F designates the driving-shaft ot' the machine, which is rotated by a large wheel, G, which engages with a smaller wheel or pinion, F', on the said shaft. Thewheel Gris provided with a handle, G', whereby it may be turned to operate the machine.

Upon the shaft F, at the back of the frame A, is a crank, F2, and F3 designates a connecting rod or pitman, through which the said crank operates the needle carrier or slide E to reciprocate the needle d2.

H designates the spool which carries the needle-thread e, and which is mounted on a pin, c', projecting from the frame A, and is acted upon by a tension-spring, c2, or other equivalent device. From the spool II the thread is taken first through a slack take-up, H', and thence through a thread-controller, H2, before it reaches the needle d2.

The take-up H consists of a slotted pin or stud having a spiral spring, e3, upon it, and the thread-controller H2 consists of a piece ol' metal having an eye, c4, for the thread, and a slot, e5, through which passes a screw, a, whereby it is attached to the needle carrier or slide E. As the needle moves into the cloth the slack in the thread c is taken up by the spring c, so as to prevent entanglement. When it is desired to have the needle draw more thread from the spool H at `each"movement, the

screw es is loosened yand the controller H2 is drawn back togmove its eye e4 away from the eye of the needle, andan increased length ot' threadequal to twice lthe distance of adjustment of the controllerwill be drawn oft' the spool. When itis desired to have less thread drawn oli', the controller H2 is shifted so' as to bringits eye c4 nearer to the eye ot' the needle.

I'designates a threadlocking device, here represented as consisting of an oscillating hook upon the opposite side of thecloth plate or bed from the needle, operating in conjunction with the needle to form a double chain stitch. The

hook lis attached to a guasrd or shield, I ,which projects beyond its nose, as seen in Fig. l, and is mounted on a shortA shaft, I2, which isjournaled in a bearing, 13, attached to the frame A.

Thescrews which secure the bearing 13 to the frame pass through slots, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2, and aftord provision for adjusting the hook toward or away from hook I. A shuttle might be substituted for I and the inner end of which is connected with the loose lever g by a link, g5. The opposite end ot' the lever J projects in the way ot' the connecting-rod F3, and as said rod vlorates` up and down it acts upon the leverJ, and through it the link g5,-and leverg actuates the pawl g to rotate the feed-wheel Q and drive the same ahead. 'After being acted upon by the rod F3 the lever J s returned by aspring, h, and the,V

length of stitch can be regulated by limiting this return movementot' the lever J. Upon said lever is a thumb-screw, t', yand this lever is drawn down by the spring It until the screw t' strikes the top of the tra-me A. Hence it will be seen thatrby unscrewing the screw t' vthe spring will draw down the ylever farther and provide for a greater movement of the feed wheel U, while by screwing in the screw the lever willbe given a nlessmovement by the rodv F3, and a less movement of the l'eed-wheelwill result. j

K designates the spool whichcarries the` thread j, which ysupplies the hook I. From the -/and'whieh is tulcrumed at k.

ythe opposite ends.

vand 2.

spool the thread j is conducted through an eye,

Aj,.thence through a slack take-up, K', similar to the take-up H before described, and to the hook I. n

' For'holding the material D tightly upon the cloth plate or bed B whilethe needle d2 enters,

I employ apresser, L, which is operated by a lever?, L/to one endet' which it is connected, The lever L is actuated to move the presser down upon the `cloth by a cam, L2,- on the drivingfshat't F,

and it is actuated by a spring, l, to raise the presser from the cloth, and thus permit the feed to operate.

To thepresser L a thrOatpIate or needleguide, M, and the finger or keeper s a-re attached by means of a screw, m, passing through a slot in the throat-plate or guide, and the said throat or guide may be adjusted up or down to conform to the up-and-down adjustment ot' the needle.

N designates a bracket, which projects from the front of the machine, as shown in Fig. 4, and which carries a gage, O, the form 'ot' which is best shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The gage O is composed of sheet metal folded so as to form two channels, n, for the reception of the edges ofthe two pieces ot' material which are tobe sewed together, and this gage moves in front ot the machine and adjusts the two edges of the material into proper position tobe taken between the cloth-plate B and feed-wheel C.

I provide the gage O with set-screws o, and

in case the figures in the two pieces of carpet do not properly match, one of the screws may be turned into the carpet, and will have a tendency to stretch that side, and thereby make the figures ot the pattern properly coincide.

Turning now to Fig. 8, D designates the carpet, to which are attached vise-clamps p at These clamps are adapted to hold .the twoV pieces ot' carpet in edge-toedge contact, as shown in Fig. 9, and are attached to two brackets or collars, P, which are adapted to be adjusted up and down upon posts Q, and secured by pins passed through the bracket or collar and one ot' a number of holes in the post. One of the clamps is connected directly with bracket or collar, While the other is connected by a screw, R, and by turning the screw any desired amount of tension may be applied to the carpet. The machine is placed upon the stretched carpet, and the. two edges ot' the pieces to be sewed together are adjusted between-,the cloth plate or bed and feed-wheel, as seen clearly in Figs. l The edges of the two breadths are then properly adjust-ed in the two channels u ot' thel gage, and the machine is then ready for operation.

IOO

' It will be seen that bymy invention I form other part.

I am aware that a carpet-sewing machine has been made in which all the parts ot' the machine are carried by a saddle ot inverted-V shape, which straddles and rides upon the ed ges ofthe carpet when two breadths are placed face to face, and in which the needles work directly through the two breadths at right angles to the carpet. My machine diiers from this in that I employ a cloth plate or bed over which the carpet is placed, and the two breadths, instead of being placed face to face, are supported on top of the cloth plate or hed in ed ge-to-edge contact, thereby enabling the needle to pass obliquely through both breadths of the carpet at once, and forming a seam which is no thicker than the carpet itself, and which will lie perfectly tlat, without forming any ridge which will increase the wear at the scam.

I am also aware that a machine for sewing carpets has been provided with a cloth plate or bed on which the two breadths are to be supported in edge-to-edge contact; but in such machine the needle works vertically directly through the carpet at right angles to the face, and the needle-bar has au oscillating motion imparted to it to enable the needle to pass through the breadths one at each downward movement and alternately.

In order to prevent the weight of the machine from causingthe carpet to sag in'sewing I may provide the gage 0 with a downwardlyextending leg, o', (shown dotted in Fig. 8,) and carrying a roller, o2, which runs upon a track, O', which consists of a rod or wire having a tensile strain applied to it. By this means the portions of the carpet which are in edge-toedge contact are sustained through the gage 0, and sagging is prevented.

In lieu of the track O', I may employ an overhead track, 02, as shown dotted in Fig. 8, and the gage may be suspended by a rod or device, o3, from aroller, o4, also shown dottedin Fig. 8.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a cloth plate or bed on the top of which two pieces of material are to be supported in edge-to-edge contact, of needle working horizontally over the apex of said plate or bed and adapted to penetrate the material obliquely to the face thereof, a thread -locking device, and operating mechanism for said needle and thread-lookin g device, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of a cloth plate or bed on top of which two pieces of material are to be supported in edge-to-edge contact, a feedwheel above said plate or hed, aneedle working horizontally over the apex of said plate or bed, a thread-locking device, and operating mechanism for said feed-wheel,for said needle, and

, for said thread-locking device, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, in a sewing-machine, of a cloth plate or bed on top of which two pieces of material are to be supported in edge-to-edge contact, and which is capable ot' adjustment upward and downward relatively to all the other parts of the machine, a needle working horizontally over the apex of said plate or bed, a thread-locking device, and operating mechanism for said needle and said thrcad-lockin g device, substantially as speciled.

4. The combination ot' the vertically-yielding cloth plate or bed on top of which two pieces of material are to be supported in edgeto-edge contact, and a spring for elevating said plate or bed, a needle working horizontally over the apex of said plate or bed, a threadlocking device, and operating mechanism for said needle and for said thread-lockin g device, substantially as specified.

5. The combination of the cloth plate or bed B, having a curved or arched apex, the lever B', the spring b, the feed-wheel U, the needle d2, the thread-locking device, and operating mechanism for said feed-wheel, needle, and thread-locking device, substantially as specitied.

` 6. The combination ot the yielding cloth plate or bed on top of which two pieces ot' inaterial are to be supported in edge-to-cdge contact, a needle working horizontally over the apex thereof and adjustable upward and downward, a thread-locking device, and operating mechanism for said needle and for said th readlocking device, substantially as specified.

7. The combination of the yielding cloth plate or bed B, the feed-wheel (J, the adjustable throat-plate M, the needle d2, adjustable upward and downward, a thread-locking device, and operating mechanism for the said Wheel, needle, and thread-lookin g device, substantially as specified.

8. The combination, with the cloth plate or bed adapted to support two pieces of material in edge-to-edge contact, ot' a needle working horizontally over the apex of said plate or bed, the oscillating hook, a guard plate or shield projecting beyond the nose of the hook, and operating mechanism for said needle and hook, substantially as specified.

9. The combination, with a yielding cloth plate or bed on top of which two pieces of material are to be supported in edge-to-edge contact, a needle working horizontally over the apex thereof', a feed-wheel, and a reciprocatingpresser above said plate or bed, a threadlocking device, and operating mechanism for said needle, feed-wheel, presser, and threadlocking device, substantially as specified.

10. The combination, with the yieldin g clothplate B, needle carrier or slide E, and hook I, of the driving-shaft F, wheel F, crank F2, and connecting-rod F3 for operating said carrier or slide, substantially as specified.

11. The combination, with the needle-carrier E, and shaft F, crank F2, and rod F3, ot' the feed-wheel C,and the lever g,pawl g,ratchet wheel g2, lever J, link g5, spring h, and adjusting-screw i, substantially as specified.

12. The combination, with the needle carrier IOO IOS

or slide-E and the crank F2 and rod F3 for operating it, of the feed-Wheel C,tl1e lever J, adapted to be actuated by the vibration of said rod, and mechanism throughfwhioh a step-bystep motion is imparted from said lever to said feed-wheel, substantially as specified.

13. The combination, with the needle carrier or slide E and the crank F2 androd F3 for reciprocating it, of the hook I, the shaft 12, slotted arm I4, and the pin f upon the needle carrier -or slide, engaging with said slotted arm, substantially vas, specified.

14. The combination, with thencloth plate or bed upon the top of which two pieces of material are to be supported in ed'ge-to-edge co'n- :[5

tact, and the feed-Wheel and mechanism for operatingit, of a gage carried in front of said cloth plate or bed and said Wheel and adapted to hold the edges of the pieces of material in proper relation to enter between said plate or zo bed and said wheel, substantially as specified. 15. The gage 0, comprising channels n and set-screws o, substantially as specied.

JOHN ONEIL.

Witnesses:

HENRY T. BROWN, FREDK. HAYNES; 

